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Re: [Worship] organ music

Diane wrote:
> I don't know what too think?  Does everyone use organ music for hymns?  I
> don't want too send the collection back if our congregation seems to enjoy it
> yet somehow I find that hard to believe.  My pastor is going listen to it to
> descide if he thinks this music represents where are church is heading
> musically but we have always been a "piano church".  It just seems to me that
> organ music should be in a cathedral.  What should I think?

We use a small pipe organ for hymns, and it works well.  Occasionally, due to
logistical constraints, we use piano for one hymn, and it always sounds too
thin to me.

We are a small Episcopal church (~200 at our main service), and we use a
combination of organ for hymns and liturgical music, and acoustic guitars,
bass and piano for worship music during communion.

The reason we use the organ is that it gives the music a very full, rich
sound that is perfect for our hymnal music, since the hymnal music is
specifically written for organ.  This full, rich sound gives our music a
very lively, vital, spirit-filled but also traditional feeling.

In my mind, there is almost nothing worse than dead, dull, quiet funeral-style
organ music, but our organ music is definitely not like that.

I think the right answer for you is a combination what your congregation's
needs are, and where you want to go with the music.  I don't think using an
organ is right for everyone.  But it's very right for us.  If you're a piano
church, and you want to be a piano church, by all means be a piano church.

I think it would be bad to try to be something you're not.  Be what you are,
and love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all
your strength!
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